Thoughtfulness Automated

Written by / Mighty Girl

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    • Automated_cards.jpgYou’d like to be a person who marks birthdays with timely cards or sends unexpected gifts, but seriously? You have stuff to do. So much stuff. Instead of setting countless reminders on your calendars and phone, consider developing a system to help with the small gestures that show loved ones you care. 

    Here are some easy ways to automate thoughtfulness:

     

    Finish your birthday cards for the year. 
    Tiny Prints lets you upload photos, add the name of the recipient, and customize text on their card designs. You can also add an iTunes, Amazon, or Target gift card. You set the date, and they mail it for the price of the stamp. Jack Cards offers similar services.
     

    Send custom gift cards automatically. 
    If you want your recipient to have more flexibility with their gift card purchases, GiftCards.com lets you purchase pre-paid Visa and Mastercards. You can upload a photo to customize the card, then set the date you’d like them to send it.
     
    Mark birthdays and anniversaries with recurring gifts. 
    7P Gifts lets you send gifts at any time in the future. You can select from their online options, but they’ll also store and deliver pre-written letters and personal gifts you ship to them. If you specify “generic gift” the service selects from best selling items at shops like Red Envelope and Best Buy. You pay when they ship the gift.
    Margaret Mason
    Margaret Mason
    Maggie Mason is the author of No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog, publisher of Mighty Mighty Media, and a Twitter power user (@Maggie). Her personal blog, Mighty Girl was recently nominated for a SxSW Lifetime Achievement Award, and she was named one of Silicon Valley's Top 50 Influencers by Now Public.

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    • http://profile.typepad.com/parenthacks Asha Dornfest

      Yes! I wrote about this a while back(a little sheepishly. I was embarrassed that I needed reminders about things I felt I SHOULD remember on my own. But I’ve gotten over that. Now I pop reminders to call and/or follow up with people in my to-do list (I use Things for iPhone). I also have a “Birthdays” calendar in GCal which emails me a week before (so I can put a card in the mail) and day-of (so I can call if I forgot the card). Birthday Failsafe FTW.

      Here’s my original post at Parent Hacks. The tech is a bit out of date, but the idea’s sound: http://www.parenthacks.com/2008/04/take-notes-duri.html

    • http://profile.typepad.com/calebgardner Calebgardner

      I so, so need this.